Mowing-machine



(No Model.)

B. H. DIXON. MOWING MAGHINE.

No. 436.825. Patented Sept. 23. 1890.,

m5 mama Parana cu., mow-mum, WASHINGTON, n. c.

' mechanism illustrated in the accompanying piece A (shown partlyiu horizontal sections UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E.

ROBERT H. DIXON, OF STILLW'ATER, MINNESOTA.

MOWING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,825, dated September 23, 1890.

Application filed April 10, 1890.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. DIXON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stillwater, in the county of Washington and State of Minnesota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mowing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to that class of mowers having two carrying-wheels, both of which are preferably drivers, and having a fingerbar jointed to its supporting member and adapted to be tilted by the driver; and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a support for the knife-operating gear which shall rock with the finger-bar; second, to so place the knife operating gear that it shall rock with the fingenbar; third, to connect the knife and its operating-crank wheel bya pitman which shall rock with the finger-bar, and in general to improve the operation of the mower. I obtain these objects by the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of Fig. 1 on lines 2 2. Fig. 3 shows a section of the hingeconnections of frame A and part A on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows hinge-connections of frame A and part A. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of shaft L on line 2 2, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference denote the same parts throughout the several views.

The frame A is supported on the axle B of the wheelsB B in the usual manner, and may be varied in form to suit the requirements of construction or wishes of the builder. The rocking coupling-piece A is hinged to the frame A by the box A which is held by trunnions A which enables this couplingpiece to have a rocking motion, and its free end, to which the finger-bar is hinged, a vertical movement, Figs. 1 and 3. The fingerbar 0 (a part of which only is shown) is fastened to the shoe 0. The rocking couplingin Fig. 1 and partly in vertical sections in Fig. 2) is forked or bifurcated at. its free end and is pivoted to the shoe 0 at a a. It is then carried upward, and has the upwardlyextending arm I), to which the lifting-leverF attaches, and the upwardly-extending arm 0, to which the tilting or rocking lever G con- Serial No. 347,365- (No model.)

nects by the pitman G. Toward the outer end a cylindrical part is formed adapted to be supported in the box A which is held by the trunnions A in a support pendent from frame A. Before reaching the bearing just described the piece is parted and extended so as to furnish transverse bearin gs for the shaft M and longitudinal bearings for the shaft L, the inner bearing M formed on the sleeve about shaft M, Fig. 5.

A wheel D maybe pivoted on the front part of the shoe 0 to assist in carrying the bar, when desired. The push-bar E connects the rocking coupling-piece A and frame A by pivoted joints, permitting the free movement of the rocking coupling-piece while giving it due support for its work. The lifting-lever F con-' nects the frame A with the rocking coupling piece A at b in the usual manner, and does notrequire a detailed description here. The rocking lever G, attached to frame A and connecting in arm 0 of the rocking coupling-piece A by the rod G, is of well-known construction, and need not be further described. The tongue H and seat I are of the style common to mowers, and need not be described. The wheels B B may be ratcheted to the shaft or axle B in the usual manner. wheelKis fastened upon axle B. The sprocket-wheel K is fastened to shaft L next to its outer bearing. axially by the spline L on said shaft, moves endwise and gives motion to the bevel-gear L, when desired, as is well understood. The bevel-gear L meshes into pinion M on shaft M, supported transversely in bearings on the coupling-piece A. On the end of the shaft opposite the pinion M is fastened the crankwheel M on which is the wrist-pin m.

which connection, whether by a stud extending outward from the knife-head or a hole in which a right-angled turn of the pitman may enter, maybe parallel axially with the wristpin on the crank-wheel, and the pitman N may be a single piece, either made of metal or wood, and its connecting ends formed with holes to attach wrist-pins, or an equivalent connection should be axially parallel.

It is readily seen that since all the knifedriving mechanism is supported on the rocking coupling-piece A, to which the finger-bar The sproc'ket- A suitable clutch L held The pitman N connects the knife 0 at its head 0,

is hinged, a solid pitinan can be used with parallel connections with the crank-wrist .and knife-head, and yet permit of allneeded movements of the finger-bar and knife.

In operation the mower is drawn forward in the usual manner. The sprocket-wheel K, by means of the chain K engaging the sprocket-wheel K, turns shaft L, on which is the bevel-gear L, which in turn meshes into bevel-pinion M on shaft M, on the other end of which shaft is the crank-wheel M on which is the wrist m, to which the pitman N connects, the other end attaching the knife-head o, by which means the usual motion is given to the knife, and the grass or other crop cut, as may be desired.

It is seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 2 that the rocking coupling-piece A is supported at its outer end by a single bearing pendent from frame A, and permitted at its inner end, to which the finger-bar is attached, to have a vertical and rocking motion, giving to the finger-bar its needed floating and tilting movement. It is further seen that all the knife-driving gearing except the first wheel are located on the rocking coupling-piece and outside of the pivoted connection of said piece with the main frame, and hence serve to counterbalance the weight of the finger-bar.

'Ihave shown my improvement only in connection with what is technically known as a chain-drive mower; but instead of the sprocket-wheelsand driving-chain here shown it is readily understood that other drivinggear could be used. It is also readily seen that-1n y improvements here shown on a frontcut mower could also be used on a rear-cut or any other style ofmower.

I do not wish to confine myself to the construction here shown and described, as various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A mower-frame supported on the drivingwheels, a rocking coupling-piece pivoted to said frame, substantiallyinline with the finger-bar and provided with longitudinal and transverse bearings for the shafts of the knife-operating gearing, said gearing being driven by connection made outside the pivot of said coupling-piece to the main frame, and a finger-bar pivoted to the inner end of the coupling-piece, whereby the finger-bar can be raised vertically and tilted upward and down ward in unison with the knife-operating gearing, substantially as described.

2. In a mowing-machine, the combination Weight of the gearing shall operate to counterpoise the weight of the finger-bar, operating substantially as set forth.

3. In a mowing-machine, the combination of a frame supported on the driving-wheels, a rocking coupling-piece pivoted to said frame substantially in line with the fingerbar, said pivot placed between the two ends of the coupling-piece and adapted topermit of a Vertical and rocking movement of the ends of said couplin'g'piece, on the outer end of which is located the knife-operating gearing, and to the inner end the finger-bar is pivoted, whereby the finger bar can-be-raised and tilted in unison with the coupling-piece, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of the mower-frame A, the rocking coupling-piece A, pivoted to said frame substantially in line with the fingerbar, the knife-operating gearing located on said coupling-piece outside the pivot to the frame, the push-bar E, pivoted to the frame A, and rocking coupling-piece A, the'fingerbar 0, pivoted to the coupling A, and aliftin g and a tilting device whereby the finger-bar can be lifted and tilted in unison with the knife-operating gearing, substantially as set forth.

5. In a mowing-machine, the combination of the frame A, the rocking coupling-piece A ,pivoted thereto substantially in line with the fingerbar, the longitudinal shaft L, on which are the sprocket-wheels K and bevelgear L, provided with bearings on the outer end of said coupling-piece, and the transverse shaft M, on which are the bevel-pinion M and the crank-WheelM provided with transverse bearings in proper relation to said-longitudinal shaft and gearing, the sprocketwheel K, and drawing-chain K the wholeoperating to drive the knife and to permit the finger-bar and coupling-piece with it's-superimposed gearing to tilt in unison, substantially as set forth.

ROBERT H. DIXON.

Witnesses:

E. D. BUFFINGTON, '0. H. BROWNE. 

